Begonia plant named &#39;Bkpbeens&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bkpbeens’, characterized by its broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and double flowers that are light red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEENS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemalis, commercially referred to as Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bkpbeens’.

The new Begonia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia x hiemalis ‘Batik’, not patented. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Batik’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Landau, Germany in August, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bkpbeens’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bkpbeens’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Double flowers that are light red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Batik’. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Batik’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are double in form         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Batik’ are semi-double in form.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Batik’ differ in flower color         as plants of ‘Batik’ have bright orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘Bkpbeegl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,825. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Outer tepals of plants of the new Begonia have entire margins         whereas outer tepal margins of plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ are incised.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Bkpbeegl’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ have bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘Nelly’, not patented. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Nelly’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are double in form         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Nelly’ are single to semi-double         in form.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Nelly’ differ in flower color         as plants of ‘Nelly’ have salmon pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bkpbeens’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of a typical flower bud and the upper and lower surfaces of typical developed flowers and leaves of ‘Bkpbeens’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown during the autumn in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° to 21° C. Plants were eight weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘Bkpbeens’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia     hiemalis ‘Batik’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about             25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants             of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright to outwardly             spreading and mounded plant habit; overall plant shape,             broadly obovate; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24.7             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 36.4 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about four basal branches developing             per plant; pinching is not required. Length: About 11.6 cm.             Diameter: About 8 mm to 9 mm. Internode length: About             2.9 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from             vertical. Texture and luster, young stems: Sparsely to             moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,             developed stems: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 146C; at the internodes, close to 185A.             Color, fully developed: Close to 148B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 14.9 cm. Width: About 10.7 cm. Shape: Ovate, unequal.             Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique, lobes meeting to slightly             imbricate. Margin: Serrate to dentate; moderately to             strongly and coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along veins;             moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Laciniate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A tinged with             close to 152A; venation, close to 144A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 177B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Darker than between 139A and N189A; venation, close             to 152A to 152B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 148B moderately to strongly tinged with close to 178A;             venation, close to 152B. Petioles: Length: About 6.4 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong,             flexible. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             152B tinged with close to N170A; at the proximal base, close             to 185A. Color, lower surface: Close to 152B tinged with             close to 199A. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two. Length:             About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.             Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire,             irregularly ciliate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate double sterile flowers arranged in             axillary compound cymes; freely flowering habit with about             nine flowers per cyme and about 180 flowers developing per             plant during the flowering season; flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,             plants begin flowering about 35 days after exposure to             photoinductive treatments.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain             good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior             environment.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 15.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter, flattened:             About 1.8 cm. Shape: Roughly circular; flattened. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous, slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to between 145D and 150D; towards the             margins and apex, close to 39B.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 4.1 cm. Depth: About 2.2 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Four per flower arranged             in two whorls. Length, lower tepals: About 3.1 cm. Width,             lower tepals: About 3.7 cm. Length, upper tepals: About             2.4 cm. Width, upper tepals: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Roughly             reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Reniform. Margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte to slightly             glossy. Color, lower tepals: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 38B; margins, close to 48A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 37A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             37B; margins, close to 48B; venation, close to between 50A             and 53D; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 29C; center, close to 35B to 35C;             venation, close to 151A to 151B; color does not fade with             development. Color, upper tepals: When opening, upper             surface: Close to between 37C and 38B; margins, close to 51B             to 51C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 38D; towards             the base, close to 145D; margins, close to between 47D and             51B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 38A; margins,             close to 48B to 48C; venation, close to between 50A and 53C;             color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 38C to 38D; margins, close to 48B to 48C;             venation, close to 151A to 151B; color does not fade with             development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement: About 20             arranged in multiple whorls at the center of the flower.             Length: About 1.4 cm to 1.8 mm. Width: About 9 mm to 18 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded to obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 150D; towards the             margins and apex, close to 36C; margins, close to 51B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 150D; towards the margins             and apex, close to 36B to 36C; margins, close to 51B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to between 37B and 38B;             margins, close to 5113; venation, similar to lamina colors;             color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to between 36A and 38D; margins, close to             52C; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not             change with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.6 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to             7 mm. Angle: About 35° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Sparsely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 146B to 146C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle:             About 20° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy.             Color: Close to 145A distally tinged with close to 153C.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,             opposite. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape:             Broadly ovate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate.             Margin: Entire, finely ciliate. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146C; towards the apex, tinged             with close to 175A.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed, all structures             transformed into tepaloids.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia as flowers are             sterile. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Bkpbeens’ as illustrated and described. 